Shnook

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A foolish or easily deceived person, often used in a lighthearted context
2. A term used to describe someone lacking sense or intelligence, typically in a humorous way
3. A playful or affectionate term for someone seen as naive or gullible

Etymology: "Shnook" is a Yiddish loanword, borrowed from "shnuk," a word for a person who is easily imposed upon or cheated. The spelling "schnook" is also in use, and both forms point back to the same Yiddish source. Its sense of a gullible, easily taken-in person is the core meaning carried over into English. The word belongs to the large body of Yiddish vocabulary that entered American English, where it took on a colloquial, slightly comic tone. English speakers adopted it to describe someone who is naive or easy to fool, a meaning that has stayed very close to the original Yiddish.

Synonyms: dupe, fool, sucker, victim, pushover

Antonyms: winner, expert